the snow queen in seven stories-第4章

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outside　in　the　streets；　but　when　they　entered　the　palace　gates；　and

saw　the　guards　in　silver　uniforms；　and　the　footmen　in　their　golden

livery　on　the　staircase；　and　the　great　halls　lighted　up；　they　became

quite　confused。　And　when　they　stood　before　the　throne　on　which　the

princess　sat；　they　could　do　nothing　but　repeat　the　last　words　she

had　said；　and　she　had　no　particular　wish　to　hear　her　own　words　over

again。　It　was　just　as　if　they　had　all　taken　something　to　make　them

sleepy　while　they　were　in　the　palace；　for　they　did　not　recover

themselves　nor　speak　till　they　got　back　again　into　the　street。　There

was　quite　a　long　line　of　them　reaching　from　the　town…gate　to　the

palace。　I　went　myself　to　see　them；〃　said　the　crow。　〃They　were　hungry

and　thirsty；　for　at　the　palace　they　did　not　get　even　a　glass　of　water。

Some　of　the　wisest　had　taken　a　few　slices　of　bread　and　butter　with

them；　but　they　did　not　share　it　with　their　neighbors；　they　thought

if　they　went　in　to　the　princess　looking　hungry；　there　would　be　a

better　chance　for　themselves。〃

　　　　〃But　Kay！　tell　me　about　little　Kay！〃　said　Gerda；　〃was　he　amongst

the　crowd？〃

　　　　〃Stop　a　bit；　we　are　just　coming　to　him。　It　was　on　the　third　day；

there　came　marching　cheerfully　along　to　the　palace　a　little　personage；

without　horses　or　carriage；　his　eyes　sparkling　like　yours；　he　had

beautiful　long　hair；　but　his　clothes　were　very　poor。〃

　　　　〃That　was　Kay！〃　said　Gerda　joyfully。　〃Oh；　then　I　have　found

him；〃　and　she　clapped　her　hands。

　　　　〃He　had　a　little　knapsack　on　his　back；〃　added　the　crow。

　　　　〃No；　it　must　have　been　his　sledge；〃　said　Gerda；　〃for　he　went

away　with　it。〃

　　　　〃It　may　have　been　so；〃　said　the　crow；　〃I　did　not　look　at　it　very

closely。　But　I　know　from　my　tame　sweetheart　that　he　passed　through　the

palace　gates；　saw　the　guards　in　their　silver　uniform；　and　the　servants

in　their　liveries　of　gold　on　the　stairs；　but　he　was　not　in　the　least

embarrassed。　'It　must　be　very　tiresome　to　stand　on　the　stairs；'　he

said。　'I　prefer　to　go　in。〃　The　rooms　were　blazing　with　light。

Councillors　and　ambassadors　walked　about　with　bare　feet；　carrying

golden　vessels；　it　was　enough　to　make　any　one　feel　serious。　His

boots　creaked　loudly　as　he　walked；　and　yet　he　was　not　at　all　uneasy。〃

　　　　〃It　must　be　Kay；〃　said　Gerda；　〃I　know　he　had　new　boots　on；　I

have　heard　them　creak　in　grandmother's　room。〃

　　　　〃They　really　did　creak；〃　said　the　crow；　〃yet　he　went　boldly　up

to　the　princess　herself；　who　was　sitting　on　a　pearl　as　large　as　a

spinning　wheel；　and　all　the　ladies　of　the　court　were　present　with

their　maids；　and　all　the　cavaliers　with　their　servants；　and　each　of

the　maids　had　another　maid　to　wait　upon　her；　and　the　cavaliers'

servants　had　their　own　servants；　as　well　as　a　page　each。　They　all

stood　in　circles　round　the　princess；　and　the　nearer　they　stood　to

the　door；　the　prouder　they　looked。　The　servants'　pages；　who　always

wore　slippers；　could　hardly　be　looked　at；　they　held　themselves　up　so

proudly　by　the　door。〃

　　　　〃It　must　be　quite　awful；〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃but　did　Kay　win

the　princess？〃

　　　　〃If　I　had　not　been　a　crow；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　have　married　her

myself；　although　I　am　engaged。　He　spoke　just　as　well　as　I　do；　when　I

speak　the　crows'　language；　so　I　heard　from　my　tame　sweetheart。　He

was　quite　free　and　agreeable　and　said　he　had　not　come　to　woo　the

princess；　but　to　hear　her　wisdom；　and　he　was　as　pleased　with　her　as

she　was　with　him。〃

　　　　〃Oh；　certainly　that　was　Kay；〃　said　Gerda；　〃he　was　so　clever；　he

could　work　mental　arithmetic　and　fractions。　Oh；　will　you　take　me　to

the　palace？〃

　　　　〃It　is　very　easy　to　ask　that；〃　replied　the　crow；　〃but　how　are　we

to　manage　it？　However；　I　will　speak　about　it　to　my　tame　sweetheart；

and　ask　her　advice；　for　I　must　tell　you　it　will　be　very　difficult　to

gain　permission　for　a　little　girl　like　you　to　enter　the　palace。〃

　　　　〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　shall　gain　permission　easily；〃　said　Gerda；　〃for

when　Kay　hears　that　I　am　here；　he　will　come　out　and　fetch　me　in

immediately。〃

　　　　〃Wait　for　me　here　by　the　palings；〃　said　the　crow；　wagging　his　head

as　he　flew　away。

　　　　It　was　late　in　the　evening　before　the　crow　returned。　〃Caw；　caw；〃

he　said；　she　sends　you　greeting；　and　here　is　a　little　roll　which　she

took　from　the　kitchen　for　you；　there　is　plenty　of　bread　there；　and　she

thinks　you　must　be　hungry。　It　is　not　possible　for　you　to　enter　the

palace　by　the　front　entrance。　The　guards　in　silver　uniform　and　the

servants　in　gold　livery　would　not　allow　it。　But　do　not　cry；　we　will

manage　to　get　you　in；　my　sweetheart　knows　a　little　back…staircase　that

leads　to　the　sleeping　apartments；　and　she　knows　where　to　find　the

key。〃

　　　　Then　they　went　into　the　garden　through　the　great　avenue；　where　the

leaves　were　falling　one　after　another；　and　they　could　see　the　light　in

the　palace　being　put　out　in　the　same　manner。　And　the　crow　led　little

Gerda　to　the　back　door；　which　stood　ajar。　Oh！　how　little　Gerda's　heart

beat　with　anxiety　and　longing；　it　was　just　as　if　she　were　going　to

do　something　wrong；　and　yet　she　only　wanted　to　know　where　little　Kay

was。　〃It　must　be　he；〃　she　thought；　〃with　those　clear　eyes；　and　that

long　hair。〃　She　could　fancy　she　saw　him　smiling　at　her；　as　he　used

to　at　home；　when　they　sat　among　the　roses。　He　would　certainly　be

glad　to　see　her；　and　to　hear　what　a　long　distance　she　had　come　for　his

sake；　and　to　know　how　sorry　they　had　been　at　home　because　he　did　not

come　back。　Oh　what　joy　and　yet　fear　she　felt！　They　were　now　on　the

stairs；　and　in　a　small　closet　at　the　top　a　lamp　was　burning。　In　the

middle　of　the　floor　stood　the　tame　crow；　turning　her　head　from　side　to

side；　and　gazing　at　Gerda；　who　curtseyed　as　her　grandmother　had　taught

her　to　do。

　　　　〃My　betrothed　has　spoken　so　very　highly　of　you；　my　little　lady；〃

said　the　tame　crow；　〃your　life…history；　Vita；　as　it　may　be　called；

is　very　touching。　If　you　will　take　the　lamp　I　will　walk　before　you。　We

will　go　straight　along　this　way；　then　we　shall　meet　no　one。〃

　　　　〃It　seems　to　me　as　if　somebody　were　behind　us；〃　said　Gerda；　as

something　rushed　by　her　like　a　shadow　on　the　wall；　and　then　horses

with　flying　manes　and　thin　legs；　hunters；　ladies　and　gentlemen　on

horseback；　glided　by　her；　like　shadows　on　the　wall。

　　　　〃They　are　only　dreams；〃　said　the　crow；　〃they　are　coming　to　fetch

the　thoughts　of　the　great　people　out　hunting。〃

　　　　〃All　the　better；　for　we　shall　be　able　to　look　at　them　in　their

beds　more　safely。　I　hope　that　when　you　rise　to　honor　and　favor；　you

will　show　a　grateful　heart。〃

　　　　〃You　may　be　quite　sure　of　that；〃　said　the　crow　from　the　forest。

　　　　They　now　came　into　the　first　hall；　the　walls　of　which　were　hung

with　rose…colored　satin；　embroidered　with　artificial　flowers。　Here　the

dreams　again　flitted　by　them　but　so　quickly　that　Gerda　could　not

distinguish　the　royal　persons。　Each　hall　appeared　more　splendid　than

the　last；　it　was　enought　to　bewilder　any　one。　At　length　they　reached　a

bedroom。　The　ceiling　was　like　a　great　palm…tree；　with　glass　leaves

of　the　most　costly　crystal；　and　over　the　centre　of　the　floor　two　beds；

each　resembling　a　lily；　hung　from　a　stem　of　gold。　One；　in　which　the

princess　lay；　was　white；　the　other　was　red；　and　in　this　Gerda　had　to

seek　for　little　Kay。　She　pushed　one　of　the　red　leaves　aside；　and　saw　a

little　brown　neck。　Oh；　that　must　be　Kay！　She　called　his　name　out　quite

loud；　and　held　the　lamp　over　him。　The　dreams　rushed　back　into　the　room

on　horseback。　He　woke；　and　turned　his　head　round；　it　was　not　little

Kay！　The　prince　was　only　like　him　in　the　neck；　still　he　was　young

and　pretty。　Then　the　princess　peeped　out　of　her　white…lily　bed；　and

asked　what　was　the　matter。　Then　little　Gerda　wept　and　told　her

story；　and　all　that　the　crows　had　done　to　help　her。

　　　　〃You　poor　child；〃　said　the　prince　and　princess；　then　they

praised　the　crows；　and　said　they　were　not　angry　for　what　they　had

done；　but　that　it　must　not　happen　again；　and　this　time　they　should

be　rewarded。

　　　　〃Would　you　like　to　have　your　freedom？〃　asked　the　princess；　〃or

would　you　prefer　to　be　raised　to　the　position　of　court　crows；　with　all

that　is　left　in　the　kitchen　for　yourselves？〃

　　　　Then　both　the　crows　bowed；　and　begged　to　have　a　fixed　appointment；

for　they　thought　of　their　old　age；　and　said　it　would　be　so　comfortable

to　feel　that　they　had　provision　for　their　old　days；　as　they　called　it。

And　then　the　prince　got　out　of　his　bed；　and　gave　it　up　to　Gerda；…　he

could　do　no　more；　and　she　lay　down。　She　folded　her　little　hands；　and

thought；　〃How　good　everyone　is　to　me；　men　and　animals　too；〃　then　she

closed　her　eyes　and　fell　into　a　sweet　sleep。　All　the　dreams　came

flying　back　again　to　her；　and　they　looked　like　angels；　and　one　of　them

drew　a　little　sledge；　on　which　sat　Kay；　and　nodded　to　her。　But　all

this　was　only　a　dream；　and　vanished　as　soon　as　she　awoke。

　　　　The　following　day　she　was　dressed　from　head　to　foot　in　silk　and

velvet；　and　they　invited　her　to　stay　at　the　palace　for　a　few　days；　and

enjoy　herself；　but　she　only　begged　for　a　pair　of　boots；　and　a　little

carriage；　and　a　horse　to　draw　it；　so　that　she　might　go　into　the　wide

world　to　seek　for　Kay。　And　she　obtained；　not　only　boots；　but　also　a

muff；　and　she　was　neatly　dressed；　and　when　she　was　ready　to　go；　there；

at　the　door；　she　found　a　coach　made　of　pure　gold；　with　the

coat…of…arms　of　the　prince　and　princess　shining　upon　it　like　a　star；

and　the　coachman；　footman；　and　outriders　all　wearing　golden　crowns

on　their　heads。　The　prince　and　princess　themselves　helped　her　into　the

coach；　and　wished　her　success。　The　forest　crow；　who　was　now　married；

accompanied　her　for　the　first　three　miles；　he　sat　by　Gerda's　side；

as　he　could　not　bear　riding　backwards。　The　tame　crow　stood　in　the

door…way　flapping　her　wings。　She　could　not　go　with　them；　because　she

had　been　suffering　from　headache　ever　since　the　new　appointment；　no

doubt　from　eating　too　much。　The　coach　was　well　stored　with　sweet

cakes；　and　under　the　seat　were　fruit　and　gingerbread　nuts。

〃Farewell；　farewell；〃　cried　the　prince　and　princess；　and　little

Gerda　wept；　and　the　crow　wept；　and　then；　after　a　few　miles；　the　crow

also　said　〃Farewell；〃　and　this　was　the　saddest　parting。　However；　he

flew　to　a　tree；　and　stood　flapping　his　black　wings　as　long　as　he　could

see　the　coach；　which　glittered　in　the　bright　sunshine。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FIFTH　STORY

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LITTLE　ROBBER…GIRL



　　　　The　coach　drove　on　through　a　thick　forest；　where　it　lighted　up　the

way　like　a　torch；　and　dazzled　the　eyes　of　some　robbers；　who　could

not　bear　to　let　it　pass　them　unmolested。

　　　　〃It　is　gold！　it　is　gold！〃　cried　they；　rushing　forward；　and　seizing

the　horses。　Then　they　struck　the　little　jockeys；　the　coachman；　and　the

footman　dead；　and　pulled　little　Gerda　out　of　the　carriage。

　　　　〃She　is　fat　and　pretty；　and　she　has　been　fed　with　the　kernels　of

nuts；〃　said　the　old　robber…woman；　who　had　a　long　beard　and　eyebrows

that　hung　over　her　eyes。　〃She　is　as　good　as　a　little　lamb；　how　nice

she　will　taste！〃　and　as　she　said　this；　she　drew　forth　a　shining　knife；

that　glittered　horribly。　〃Oh！〃　screamed　the　old　woman　the　same